Clasp for the corsets of artificial limbs.



A. FORSTER.

CLASP FOR THE coRsEIs 0F ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 19!].

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

run. a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM FORSTER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO J. E. HANGER, INCOR- PORATED, A CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CLASP FOR THE CORSETS OF ARTIFICIAL LIMIBS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 2'7, 1918.

Application filed. July 9, 1917. Serial No. 179,542.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM FoRs'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for the Corsets of Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clasps for the corsets of artificial legs.

The object of my invention is to produce a clasp of said character in which the fastening members are concealed from View, and which forms a smooth flush outer surface devoid of any projections. Another object thereof is to produce a corset clasp formed of two coacting parallel rigid plates adjustably secured to the adjacent edges of the corset opening adapted to be interlocked when drawn together and held in locked position by the normal pressure of the body member carried therein. A further object thereof is to produce a device of said character adapted to be interchangeably applied to the corset of a right or left artificial leg, and a still further object of my invention is to produce a more simple, cheap and efiicient device of the character described than has heretofore been attained.

To these ends, and for other purposes that will hereinafter appear, my invention includes the combination and arrangement of component parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a face view of my clasp in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view opened, and

Fig. 3 is a reverse or back view of the clasp in closed position.

Fig; 4 is a detail sectional view.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates a corset for containing the thigh or remaining stump of an amputated leg on which the upper portion of the artificial leg is secured.

Said corset is provided with a longitudinal opening 2 adapted to be closed about the thigh by the clasp 3 of my invention. Said clasp comprises two elongated plates 4 and 5 one of which may be riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the edge of the body of the corset while the other may be adjustably laced to the body portion on the opposite edge of the opening through the eyelets 6.

On the inner face of the plate I- and adjacent to its free edge is provided the inwardly projecting lugs 7 and 8 spaced apart from each other and adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. The lower lug 7 is provided with a downwardly-extending hook member 7 and the upper lug 8 is likewise provided with a laterally-extending hook portion 8 to engage the slots or orifices 9 and 1.0 respectively in the plate 5 when the corset is worn or held on the stump of the limb.

As shown in the drawing, the lower slot 9 is slightly larger than the head of the lug 7 and hook 7 and is arranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the plate so that the hook and lug can only be insertedor removed when the two plates are out of parallel position, and it is obvious that when the hook 7' has been thus inserted it will engage the. edge of the slot when the plates are in parallel position as held by the lug 8 and hook 8 when inserted in the slot 10.

In use, the stump of the leg is carried in the body of the corset which may be comfortably adjusted by the lacings, as shown. The lower lug 7 and hook 7 may be passed through the lower slot 9 while the plates are at an acute angle to each other. The lug 7 thus forms a pivot on which the plates may be drawn together to clamp on the stump until the upper lug 8 registers with the upper slot or eye 10 when it is passed therethrough to engage the hook 8 which clasps the parts in clamped position. In such position'one plate overlaps the other to conceal the fastening means thereunder.

It will be appreciated that the relation of the hooks and slots on the adjacent plates are such that outward pressure thereon tends to more securely lock the parts together and that such pressure must be re: laXed or overcome and the plates moved toward each other at their upper ends before the clasping members can be disengaged. It will be further apparent that the structure thus shown and described presents a smooth outer surface and avoids the use of projections of any character to hold the parts together, which are uncomfortable, unsightly and wear through the garments worn over them.

Having thus described my invention, what I olann as new and deslre to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- A clasp for the corset-s of artificial limbs, comprising a pair of elongated plates secured to the free edges ofthe opening In the body of the corset, projecting hook-shaped longitudinal axis thereof for engaging the longitudlnal hook, and another orlfice for engaglngth other hook, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ADAM FORSTER.

itnesses BEN PAUL BRASLEY, K. A. MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

